In December of 1996, the Auburn City Council first discussed the appointment of citizens to a bicycle task force which would advise Auburn city leaders about cycling related concerns. Auburn cyclists were (and are!) a vocal and committed constituency, and the Council did indeed create a group along the lines of its task force model. It is comprised of members of the City of Auburn government and ordinary citizens, all with a strong interest in improving bicycling in our city.

The Auburn City Council created the Bicycle Committee to:

assess the City's needs for safe bicycle travel;

develop priorities and recommendations for bicycle-related projects;

identify resources that are available in the community to implement the recommendations;

establish and encourage cooperation between public agencies, citizens and the private sector in implementing bicycle-related policies;

report to the City Council as to how community resources can best be mobilized to meet the needs identified by the Committee.

The Auburn Bicycle Committee created the Auburn Bicycle Plan. This plan is a guide to improving bicycling in Auburn. A large part of this plan is the Auburn Bicycle Network Map. This is a map for a system of roadways which, when improved with appropriate bicycle facilities (e.g. bike paths or bike lanes), would provide Auburn citizens with a convenient and safe way cycle throughout town. The Bike Network map is an authoritative resource for Auburn planners and engineers who are striving to make Auburn an even better place to bicycle.

An important and lasting effort of the early years of the Bike Committee was the implementation of bicycle safety instruction for all fourth graders in Auburn. All children now in the Auburn Public Schools system will have had a standard curriculum in bicycle safety by the time they leave fourth grade. It should be noted that the program uses a fleet of bicycles (thanks to a grant from the Auburn Civitan Club) that gets the kids out of the classroom and onto bikes for more effective training.

Additionally, another innovation from the first years of the Bike Committee that is still with us today is the annual Bike Bash. This event promotes bicycling, bike safety, and showcases bike paths recently constructed.

These lasting contributions resulted from the efforts of all who gave their time and energy to the new Auburn Bike Committee in the first years of its existence. However, there were individuals who gave much more than their fair share, and their names should be emphasized and applauded. Jeff Ramsey, the Director of Public Works, Dee Watson of the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department, and "citizen-activists" Joanna Hoit, Roberta Jackel, and Bill Baird all made an enormous difference in the quality of bicycling in Auburn through their work on the Auburn Bike Committee during its inception.

Over 20 years later, the Bicycle Committee is still an active force in the Auburn landscape. Thanks to the diligence of the committee, we have bike paths and lanes in many places in Auburn. The Committee is instrumental to the discussion and implementation of the bicycling component of the Auburn 2020 Plan.

Committee meetings are open to anyone in the city who wants to contribute ideas and help make Auburn a better community for bicycles! Meetings of the Auburn Bicycle Committee are held on the last Tuesday of every month. All meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. at the Auburn Public Library, 749 E Thach Avenue, in the Conference Room.